Global Church News

I keep up with church news around the world. In part, I am a news junkie and I like to keep on top of trends and changes with in the church.

The 2 biggest news stories out there that I have been watching are these 2 stories.

From the BBC, the split in the Anglican Church

&

The largest drop in attendance since 1974 in the PCUSA denomination.

I have friends in both denominations and that's why these caught my attendance.

Thanks to Memorial Presbyterian from TN

This week we had some assistance in bringing the gospel to Nashua.

Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elizabethton, TN youth ministry team, Ignitus, came with 18 able bodies to run VBS, a Soccer Clinic and assist local mercy ministries. They have been a blessing to the church and to Nashua and I am thankful for their ministry in Nashua.

Saturday they head home to TN so I wanted to let folks know of their ministry and support. Thanks for all of your efforts to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to New England!

Guest Preacher : Bradley Barnes

Bradley Barnes is preaching this Sunday. Bradley is at Harvard University ministering as a chaplain. It is always a pleasure to have him with us. Come and join us as he preaches from the Book of Romans!

CT Article on WALL-E

I was not that interested in seeing the next Pixar Movie, WALL-E until I read this article by CT. Sounds like a worthwhile movie to see!

Tim Keller in CT Article

No surprises here, if you are familiar with this blog and Tim Keller, you know all about the book, The Reason for God.

But I thought I would pass this article along in case you have not read up on this exciting book. No#7 on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Notes from General Assembly in Dallas

The Stated Clerk of the PCA makes a report each year of General Assembly. It is a summary of the actions and highlights of the meeting.

Anyhow, if you are interested, click on this link to read the report. It gives some insight into the workings of the PCA.

Society of Biblical Literature Annual Mtg.

Okay, for most folks this will be not interesting in the least, but I am putting on the blog for my benefit.

The Annual Mtg for SBL is in Boston this year, and there is breakfast for Regent Students which I may choose to go. But if your interested in the SBL, I encourage you to check out their website.

Sermon Text: Psalm 4

Psa. 4:0 For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
Psa. 4:1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
Psa. 4:2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? Selah.
Psa. 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The LORD hears when I call to Him.
Psa. 4:4 Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Psa. 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.
Psa. 4:6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
Psa. 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
Psa. 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Travels have a way of causing blogs to suffer

Some of you know this, but it has been a busy time for the Wakefield family. Allison spent some time working in Boston, our oldest has been in CT for 2 weeks and I made a trip to the great state of Texas for General Assembly for the PCA.

So in the midst of all the traveling, the blog has suffered, and I apologize. I will try and improve things over the course of the next week or so. If you look at the picture of Dallas on the left, I stated at the hotel to the left of the ball of light. Pretty nice place for GA, next year it will be in Orlando, FL which is a nice place to visit.

Sermon Text: Psalm 2

Couple questions for you......

What was the most popular psalm in the 1st Century Church?
What Psalm is quoted the most in the New Testament?
What Psalm is the first Messianic Psalm in the book of Psalms?

Yep, you guessed it, Psalm 2

In my original schedule I thought about skipping this one because I only had a few Sundays to work with in the summer. But that would have been a big mistake. Psalm 2 is a critical psalm for us to understand.

Psa. 2:1 Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
Psa. 2:2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
Psa. 2:3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
Psa. 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Psa. 2:5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
Psa. 2:6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
Psa. 2:7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Psa. 2:8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
Psa. 2:9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”
Psa. 2:10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Psa. 2:11 Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Psa. 2:12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Decedents from the Desert Fathers in 21st Egypt

If you know anything about early church history, you know that there is a group known as the Desert Fathers. Mostly men, who retreated to the wilderness and desert to escape from this world and live a mostly ascetic existence.

Anyhow, they are an interesting bunch, and fascinating to read their testimonies.

I came across this article talking about a Monastery in Egypt that claims that their existence comes from these Desert Fathers. Fascinating, and I must say I would be interested to visit some day if I could.

The Monastery even has a website. Check it out!

Sermon Text: Psalm 1

Psa. 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
Psa. 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psa. 1:3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
Psa. 1:4 The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
Psa. 1:5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Psa. 1:6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.